RALLYING: Davies revving up in a Volvo at Dayinsure Wales Rally GB

HEREFORD'S Ken Davies is revving up to celebrate a special motor sport milestone at the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB

Davies, who owns KGD Industrial Services based at Rotherwas Industrial Estate, will contest the country’s premier rally in his classic Volvo Amazon from October 26 to 29.

Volvo may no longer be synonymous with rally sport but Swedish legend Tom Trana won back-to-back Rally GBs in 1963 and 1964 in a Volvo PV544 before finishing third in an Amazon saloon two years later.

Due to the 1967 event being cancelled, this will be the 50th Rally GB and Davies is keen to emulate Volvo's 1966 success.

“My co-driver Alan Jones mentioned the time scale, so we thought we really ought to have a go on this year’s event,” said Davies, who has owned his Amazon for the past six years.

“I wanted something different from the historic Escorts that everyone else seems to rally, so I really fancied the Volvo when it came up for sale.

“It’s a car that everyone loves – it must be the one of the most photographed in the woods.

"It’s quite hard to drive compared to modern machines but it’s great fun and we are getting quicker and quicker.”

The evocative Amazon is one of a large number of crowd-pleasing historic rally cars contesting the three-day WRGB National Rally which shadows the full FIA World Championship event.

Other eye-catchers include a number of Peugeot 205 GTIs, a Datsun 240Z, a brace of VW Beetles plus lots of evergreen – and ever sideways – Ford Escorts.

Adding to the sense of occasion, all the National Rally competitors are based alongside the WRC stars at the main Rally Village in Deeside.

“By all accounts it’s going to be a tough event,” admitted Davies.

“However this particular Amazon was originally built to compete in the East African Classic Safari Rally, so its pretty robust if a little overweight.”

Back in 1966 there were two Volvos on a Rally GB entry list dominated by Minis and Ford Cortinas.

It was a star-studded line-up too, featuring F1 world champions Jim Clark and Graham Hill plus a host of rally legends including Paddy Hopkirk, Timo Mäkinen and Roger Clark.

Despite the presence of such high-profile talent, victory went to the Ford Lotus Cortina of Bengt Söderström with fellow Swedes Harry Källström (Mini Cooper S) and Amazon ace Trana joining him on the podium.

Tickets for the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB – which includes admission to the WRGB National Rally – are on sale with significant savings for those buying in advance.

If purchased now, adult day tickets are available for £25 with accompanied children aged under 16 admitted free of charge.

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